Portable lifting device



Jan. 3, 1961 J. COOPER PORTABLE LIF'II'ING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1959 INVENTOR. JACOB COOPER Jan. 3, 1961 J. COOPER 2,966,993

PORTABLE LIFTING DEVICE Filed March 31, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 SHIIWiZIIIS a" main 'IIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR. f-7- -JACOB COOPER 66 E QP ATTORNEY United States atent PORTABLE LIFTING DEVICE Jacob Cooper, 24 Talbot St., New Hyde Park, N.Y.

Filed Mar. 31, 1959, Ser. No. 803,218

4 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention concerns a lifting device for wall and ceiling boards, panels, and the like.

The invention is directed at a portable jack for holding large, heavy boards and lumber in an elevated position for mounting on a ceiling or other elevated position. Heretofore there has not been available any convenient means by which a home owner could single-handedly support large, heavy pieces of lumber, boards and the like required for nailing to a ceiling in finishing basement playrooms, attic rooms, and the like.

The present invention has as a principal object an adjustable jack having radially extendible arms adapted for supporting a board of extended length and width in a horizontal position or in a position inclined to a horizontal plane.

A further object is to provide a jack of the character described with collapsible tripod legs having castors for moving the loaded jack to a desired work position.

A still further object is to provide a collapsible jack construction which can readily be stored in a small space and which includes telescoped tubes having retractable arms and legs mounted thereon.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the device in an extended position.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the device in a collapsed or retracted position.

Fig. 3 is a lateral elevational view of the device taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of the closed collapsed device.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a modification of the invention, showing the supporting arms in closed position in full lines and in expanded operative position in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 6 showing the supporting arms in expanded operative position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the device of Fig. 6, showing the supporting arms in inoperative position.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a hollow tube 10 in which is telescopically disposed a tube 12 of smaller diameter. Tube 10 has three brackets 14 attached to its lower end. To these brackets are pivotally secured three tubular legs 15, 16 and 17 spaced 120 apart around tube 10. Each leg has a universally rotatable castor 18 mounted at its free end. Ball bearings 19 in the castors permit free turning of the castors on the longitudinal axes of the legs. Chains 20, 21 and 22 are secured to the legs by eyes 25 and detachably engage on hooks 23 carried by the legs. The legs can be retracted against the tube 10 as shown in Figs. 2-5.

At the upper end of tube 10 are mounted in diametrally opposed positions two brackets 24. These brackets pivotally support braces 26 which have pointed ends 29 adapted to engage in selected teeth 27 at the lower sides of arms 28. Arms 28 are two members pivotally supported on inwardly extending brackets 30 mounted at the upper inner end of tube 12. The arms 28 normally hang suspended in elongated slots 31 in the side wall of tube 12 and can be pivoted outwardly through slot 31.

Arms 28 may be disposed horizontally in alignment with each other and with their top surfaces flush with the top edge of tube 12 as shown in Fig. 1 in order to support a board B shown in dotted lines. The fiat top edge 32 of the tube 12 provides a horizontal supporting surface and arms 28 provide surfaces that are diametral extensions of the top edge surface. Upstanding flanges or abutments 34 may be provided at the ends of the arms 28 to provide means preventing endwise movement of the supported B board. If it is desired to support the board B at an angle to the horizontal one of the arms can be disposed at that angle as shown at B in dot-dash lines in Fig. l of said arm and the supporting brace 26 of said arm will be adjusted along the arm to support the arm at the selected angle as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to elevate the inner tube 12 with respect to the outer tube 10, there is provided a ratchet including a toothed rack 36 extending longitudinally along tube 12 and projecting radially through a longitudinal slot 38 in tube 10 intersecting the top edge of the tube. A pair of bracket plates 40 on tube 10 support a pivotable lever 42 having a finger 43 at its inner end urged inwardly towards the tube by a leaf spring 44 carried by the bracket plates 46, as best shown in Fig. 4.

A pin 46 passes'through a slot bearing opening 48 near the inner end of lever 42. The finger 43 normally abuts a fiat lower side 49 of a tooth of the rack as shown in Fig. 4. When the lever 42 is pivoted upwardly in the direction of arrow 50, the finger 43 while being retracted by the tension in spring 44 slides on the inclined side 51 of the next lower tooth, without exerting pressure thereon, and is retracted by the tension in spring 44, andengages the lower flat side of the next lower tooth. Then when the lever is lowered, the lever exerts an up ward push on said next lower tooth and the rack 36 and tube 12 are elevated one step.

An L-shaped catch plate 52 engages under a fiat side of the next adjacent upper tooth as the tube 12 is lifted, to hold the tube elevated. This catch plate is slidably mounted on a plate 54 attached near the upper ends of bracket plates 40. A leaf spring 56 mounted on tube 10 urges the catch plate 52 inwardly under the tooth engaged thereby. Plate 52 is provided with a slot 55 through which passes a rivet 57 for holding plate 52 slidably on plate 54. Each time lever 42 is raised and then lowered, the tube 12 is lifted by one tooth of the rack 36 because as the lever 42 is lowered its finger 43 raises the rack by one tooth.

As each tooth passes plate 52, the plate and spring 56 are moved outwardly away from tube 12, and when passed the plate is urged inwardly by the spring to engage under the fiat side of the next tooth. By partially swinging lever 42 upwardly and manually retracting plate 52, is is possible to pull the inner tube 12 upwardly or lower it manually and stop at a desired tooth of the rack with out repeatedly operating the lever 42.

Figs. 25 illustrate how all the legs, arms and lever of the device can be swung to inoperative positions parallel to the axes of the tubes. Arms 28 are swung wholly 3 Within the slots 31, 38in the tubes as best shown in Big. 5. The chains 20-.-.-22 areshown in pendent positions in Fig. 5.

To dispose the device in extended position as shown idf'Fi'g. 1, the chains 2022 will be used to hold the legs in extending angular positions with respect to each other. It will be noted that the hooks are T-shape in form. It is thus possible to pass each chain two-thirds of the way around tube and across an adjacent leg when the legs are retracted toengage the free end of the chain on the upstanding hook portion of the third leg. Since each chain may be passed two-thirds of the distance around the device they may be disposed in a staggered array around the device as Shown in Figs. 2 and 3. After the legs are extended as shown in Fig. 1, the inner tube will be raised to desired height. The arms 28 will be extended horizontally or at any desired angle to the horizontal and the braces 26 will be engaged in the appropriate teeth 27 of the arms to support them.

The device maybe made of aluminum which is light in weight and readily portable. It satisfies a long felt need by home builders, carpenters, home owners and others engaged in installing wide, heavy boards and lumber in elevated positions, without assistance by others. Preferably two such devices as described may be used at opposite ends of a board or panel. The lumber can be lifted directly to ceiling height and there nailed in place without the workmans exerting any lifting effort while he is nailing the board or panel in position.

Referring now to the modification of the invention shown in Figs. 6-8, the device shown herein includes va rsquare shaped, fiat :base 60 supporting an upright tubular member 62,, open .at its top end. A plurality of pivot pins; 64 are supported across the top of the tubular member, four such pins being shown. An article supporting arm 66 is pivotally connected to each pin adjacent the inner .end thereof, inside the tubular member. The upper end of the tubular member is cutaway as indicated-at 68 adjacent the point where each arm is connected to its respective pivot pin. When not in use, the supporting arms 66 are swung upwardly to vertically disposed compact collapsed position as shown in Figs. 69. In use, the supporting arms 66 are swung downwardly to horizontally disposed position as shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 6. When in this position, the top surfaces of the arms are flush with the top surface of the tubular member 62 for supporting a panel, sheet material, board or like building material.

The device may be placed on any flat supporting surface or may be placed in a recess formed in a support.- ing member on the arms 28 of Fig. 1 such as the recess 70 in the board B whereby the device may be read.ly elevated for work not within reach of the operator.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Pateat is:

1. A lifting device for boards, panels, and the like, comprising a pair of tubular members having longitudinal slots, one member disposed telescopically within the other, a rack gear carried longitudinally by said one member and extending radially through a longitudinal slot in the other member, a lever and spring means carried by said other member for coacting with said rack gear and elevating said one member, a pair of arms carried pivotally by said one member and normally disposed in longitudinal slots thereof, means for supporting said arms in a horizontal position, and means for movably supporting said other member in an upright elevated position, said support means for the arms comv4 prising braces pivotally carried by said other tubular member, said arms having toothed sides adapted to be engaged by ends of said braces.

2. A lifting device for boards, panels, and the like, comprising a pair of tubular members having longitudinal slots, one member disposed telescopically Within the other, a rack gear carried longitudinally by said one member and extending radially through a longitudinal slot in the other memb'ena. lever and spring means carriedby said other member. for coacting withsaid rack gear and elevating said one member, a pair of arms carried pivotally by said onemember and normally disposed in longitudinal slots thereof, means for supporting said arms in a horizontal position, and means for movably supporting said other member in an upright elevated position, said support means for the arms comprising braces pivotally carried by said other tubular member, said arms having toothed sides adapted to be. engaged by ends of said braces, the last-named means comprising three legs pivotally attached to brackets and spaced vapart on the lower end of said other tubular member.

3. A lifting device for boards, panels, and the like, comprising a pair of tubular members-having longi tudinal slots, one member disposed, telescopically within the other, a rack gear carried longitudinally by said one member and extending radially through a longitudinal slot in the other member, a lever and spring means car-- ried by said other member for coacting with saidrack gear and elevating said one member, a pair of arms carried pivotally by said one member and normally disposed. in longitudinal slots thereof, means for supporting said arms in a horizontal position, and means for movably supporting said other member in an upright elevated position, said support means for the arms comprising braces pivotally carried by said other tubular member, said arms having toothed sides adapted to be engaged by ends of said braces, the last-named means comprising three legs pivotally attached to brackets and spaced 120 apart on the lower end of said other tubular member, and a chain carried by each of the legs, each leg having a hook for engaging a free end of a chain carried by an adjacent leg, whereby the legs may be held in extended and retracted positions.

4. A lifting device for boards, panels, and the like, comprising a pair of tubular members having longitudinal slots, one member disposed telescopically Within the other, a rack gear carried longitudinally by said one member and extending radially through a longitudinal slot in the other member, a lever and spring means carried by said other member for coacting with said rack gear and elevating said one member, a pair of arms carried pivotally by said one member and normally disposed in longitudinal slots thereof, means for supporting said arms in a horizontal position, and means for movably supporting said other member in an. upright elevated position, said support means for the arms comprising braces pivotally carried by said other tubular member, said arms having toothed sides adapted to be engaged by ends of said braces, the last-named means comprising three legs pivotally attached to brackets and spaced 120 apart on the lower end of said other tubular. member, and a chain carried by each of the legs, each leg having a hook for engaging a free end of a chain carried by an adjacent leg, whereby the legs may be held in extended and retracted positions, each of the hooks being T-shaped to provide means for engaging the free ends of the chains thereon in extended and retracted positions of the legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

